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Washington Sheriff Weighs in On Shall/May Carry Debate

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press play to hear from Washington County Sheriff Jerry Dunbar

Several gun rights advocacy groups want Sheriff’s in Iowa’s counties to have less say over who is issued a permit to carry a concealed firearm. Washington County Sheriff Jerry Dunbar says right now, Iowa is known as a “may issue” state, meaning a sheriff can use his or her discretion. Dunbar says groups like the National Rifle Association and Iowa Carry.org, want Iowa to be a “shall issue state” which would limit a county sheriff’s authority to deny such permits. Dunbar says he and many other members of the state’s Sheriff’s Association would prefer the law to stay the way it is.